Posts Tagged“featured”

5 Questions with… Anthony Quattrone, Paumanok Vineyards

If you’ve taken the drive out Route 25 on the North Fork east of Riverheard and stopped in at Paumanok Vineyards in the last 8 months,  you’ve likely met Anthony Quattrone. A self-described jack-of-all-trades Quattrone spends most of his time in Paumanok’s tasting room pouring for, educating and giving tours to all those who stop by the vineyard. But, as many in the industry do, Quattrone wears multiple hats and also manages fulfillment of wholesale accounts, works in the cellar and assists with harvest for Paumanok. A Long Island native, Anthony is originally from Coram, NY and after moving around he…

Continue Reading

2015 Wine Bloggers Conference to be Hosted by the Finger Lakes Region

The Wine Bloggers Conference, a yearly event that helped inspire my own annual TasteCamp event — is coming to the Finger Lakes wine region August 13-16, 2015. A great ‘get’ for the region — any group that can get this event off of the west coast deserves kudos — it should bring much-deserved attention to one of the most exciting wine regions in America. A press release from Finger Lakes Wine Country said that organizers are expecting 300 attendees. There will be more information available soon, but in the meantime, here’s that press release: 2015 WINE BLOGGERS CONFERENCE COMING TO FINGER…

Continue Reading

News Brief: Nathan Kendall Becomes Head Winemaker at Villa Bellangelo

Chris Missick, owner of Villa Bellangelo, announced late last week that Nathan Kendall has accepted the position of head winemaker for his Dundee-based winery. Kendall is a native of upstate New York and has worked in the wine industry both in the U.S. and abroad. Most recently, he was an assistant to winemaker Morten Hallgren of Ravines Wine Cellars in Hammondsport, NY. Kendall fills Villa Bellangelo’s head winemaker role which had been vacant since Ian Barry left earlier this year to focus on Barry Family Cellars in Hector, NY.

Continue Reading

Brewery Ommegang Fleur De Houblon

The Fleur De Houblon (hop flower ale) from Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY has been my favorite “summer ale” this season. Albeit not my preferred style of beer, summer ales are ubiquitous this time of year. Many of these ales eventually find my gullet out of pure thirst, oppressive heat and/or lack of a better choice. I like this beer because it isn’t limpid, over-carbonated, and shows more complexity than any other offering in its class. Poured gently to not disturb the yeast sediment, the ale glows a bright yellow-gold color with a pearl frothy head. Whole-cone Bravo hops (featured…

Continue Reading

Wolffer Estate 2013 “Summer in a Bottle” Rose

Even though it was just released in May — 1,530 cases worth — Wolffer Estate 2013 “Summer in a Bottle” Rose ($24) is sold out at the winery.  Yes, you read that correctly. More than 1,500 cases gone in about two months. You still may find it at shops or restaurants, but you can’t get it at the winery anymore. That’s pretty incredible and a problem that many wineries would love to have. Of course it’s not really a problem for Wolffer Estate. Winemaker Roman Roth makes five different roses — three still, one sparkling and one dessert wine — so there…

Continue Reading

Hector Wine Company 2012 Syrah

It’s easy to get caught up in all of the delicious white wines — not just riesling, mind you — coming out of the Finger Lakes and assume that the red wines just aren’t very good. Several folks charged with selling Finger Lakes wines of all styles lament this fact quite openly when you speak with them or interact with them on the interwebs. It’s a common misconception, but like many is based at least in part on facts. You can throw “cool-climate” around all you want — and many do — but if you’re working with the wrong varieties…

Continue Reading

Inside the Olney Place: The Beating Heart of the Finger Lakes Recalls Great Stores

Gualala, California is a small ocean-side town in California, northwest of Napa. It’s home to the Surf Market, the coolest community grocery store in the country. And while the locals love it, it convinces tourists to make the drive from Napa Valley. “Perhaps the closest thing to the perfect small town store,” is how Seth Olney describes it. Olney is the owner of the Olney Place on Keuka Lake, and he knows something about what makes a store special. At the age of 34, Olney has developed his community store into the beating heart of the Finger Lakes. He’s traveled…

Continue Reading

Robibero Family Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Franc

Made with fruit sourced from the Finger Lakes, Robibero Family Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Franc ($40 | Sold Out)  offers aromas of wild blueberries, blackberries and red cherries, black licorice, garden herbs and cinnamon candy. Concentrated but not over-extracted, the palate starts with hat same black and blue fruit before showing woodsy spice, licorice, herbs and enough toasty oak to add a layer of complexity but not enough to get in the way of the intense fruit core. Medium-intensity tannins and a bit of fresh acidity provide a nice frame. Though not overly lengthy, the finish doesn’t drop off either. Robibero is one of…

Continue Reading

TasteCamp 2014 Invites Writers to Explore Hudson River Valley Wine Country

Today, I’m thrilled to announce that our TasteCamp will take place October 10-12, 2014 and that we’re bringing it back to New York — in the Hudson River Region. Somewhat sandwiched between New York’s two most prominent fine wine regions, the Hudson River Region doesn’t get the attention that it deserves. Historically, the region has been known for the types of sweet, hybrid grape-based wines that appeal to tourists rather than fine wine lovers, but over the past decade that’s changed significantly. Hybrids are still quite common, but through improved viticultural and cellar practices, quality has never been better. And,…

Continue Reading

Castello di Borghese Owner, Marco Borghese, Dies After a Car Accident

It’s hard to believe that five year have passed since Long Island winery owners Christian Wolffer and Bob Palmer, as well as respected vineyard manager Ben Sisson passed away. Over the past week, the Long Island wine community has lost two more pillars — Ann Marie and Marco Borghese, just days apart. Details on Ann Marie’s passing are few and far between, but I’ve been told that she died after a short fight with cancer. As reported by The Suffolk Times, Marco died last night as the result of a car accident in Wading River: Marco Borghese, a pillar of Long Island’s…

Continue Reading